Can’t give blood.

Bethany College is having a blood drive next week. It’s kind of a bummer for me, because I can’t give blood.

The first time I gave blood, way back in 1994, the blood bank rejected it. It seems my liver was producing some kind of contaminant protein that does nothing to me (I made sure of that) and most people; but it still meant they couldn’t use it. Well, once your blood been rejected once, it’s been rejected forever. For all I know, my liver isn’t producing that chemical anymore; but the blood banks don’t want to take the risk.

I’m now on some national “do not take these people’s blood” list that the blood banks share. Seriously—I’ve seen it. Apparently there are some psychos that want to pollute the blood supply, and it’s against the law to give blood if you know you’re HIV-positive. So I’m on the list, along with everyone who has certain viruses and other contaminants, and they don’t really have a system to take people off it. (Or at least they didn’t when I looked into it in 1998.)

At least I can support the American Red Cross financially. As we all should. You know they’re still helping out with tsunami relief. But if you can, give blood.

…And someone explain to me why they measure blood units in pints? Aren’t scientists supposed to be using the metric system? (They’re probably taking 500 cc’s and just calling it a pint.)